IML 2025: Yuvraj Singh's blistering 59, Shahbaz Nadeem's fiery four-fer land Indian Masters in final with dominating 94-run win over Australia Masters

IML 2025: Yuvraj Singh's blistering 59, Shahbaz Nadeem's fiery four-fer land Indian Masters in final with dominating 94-run win over Australia Masters
IML 2025: Yuvraj Singh's blistering 59, Shahbaz Nadeem's fiery four-fer land Indian Masters in final with dominating 94-run win over Australia Masters

Highlights:

India Masters bulldozed Australia Masters to storm into IML 2025 final

Yuvraj Singh and Shahbaz Nadeem remained the architects of India's win

Sachin Tendulkar-led India Masters sizzled into International Masters League (IML) 2025 final after their stunning 94-run win over Australia Masters in the semifinal clash in Raipur, fueled by a blistering half-century from Yuvraj Singh and a stellar four-wicket performance by Shahbaz Nadeem.

After being asked to bat first, India Masters suffered an early setback with the dismissal of Ambati Rayudu, who was undone by an arm-ball from Steve O’Keefe. However, Sachin Tendulkar (42 off 30) provided a nostalgic display of his batting prowess, showcasing his signature nimble footwork and contributing crucial boundaries during the PowerPlay.

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Yuvraj Singh injected explosive momentum into the innings, launching an immediate assault on the Australian bowlers. His 59 runs, scored off just 30 balls, featured seven towering sixes, with Yuvraj demonstrating his mastery over spin by repeatedly lofting deliveries over the leg side. A crucial 47-run partnership between Yuvraj and Sachin Tendulkar solidified India Masters' control of the match. Subsequent contributions from Yusuf Pathan (23 off 10) and Stuart Binny (36 off 21) further bolstered the team's total, culminating in a formidable 220 for seven.

Australia's run chase faltered from the outset. Vinay Kumar's early dismissals of Shane Watson (5) and Shaun Marsh (21) dealt a significant blow to their chances. Shahbaz Nadeem (4/15) then proceeded to dismantle the middle order with his disciplined stump-to-stump bowling.

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Ben Cutting's 39 runs off 30 balls offered a brief resistance, delaying the inevitable outcome. However, Irfan Pathan (2/31) ultimately sealed India Masters' victory by claiming the final two wickets in the penultimate over.

The stage is now set for the second semi-final of the International Masters League. On Friday (March 15), the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium will once again host the action, as Sri Lanka Masters, who impressively topped the IML points table following the group stage, face off against West Indies Masters. This crucial match will determine who advances to meet India Masters in the final to meet India.